When he stood in front of No 10 on Monday afternoon, Andy Burnham launched his premiership with an ambitious pledge to end rough sleeping.

However, as he delivers his first instruction as Prime Minister, Mr Burnham should reflect on his efforts closer to home, because he failed spectacularly to keep a promise to get homeless people off the streets of Greater Manchester.

Before he was elected mayor in 2017, Labour’s “King of the North” told voters he would “end rough sleeping by 2020”. He did not even come close to achieving his aim.

Figures show that, under his leadership, reports of rough sleeping in Greater Manchester doubled, with the number of people on the street rising four years in a row.

‘Significant work to do’

In taking his pledge nationwide, the 59th prime minister of the UK has promised to find a solution to a problem that successive governments have failed to solve.

While the move was welcomed by homelessness charities, one, St Mungo’s, cautioned that the Cabinet must “commit to this bold pledge” and “there is significant work to do”, with an estimated 4,800 people sleeping rough in England.

Speaking as he took office, Mr Burnham said: “I will soon go through that door behind me and issue my first instruction: to end rough sleeping in our country.

“We will help people to live well, building a more preventative state, investing in people’s success, rather than paying for people’s failure. And that work starts now.”

However, Mr Burnham will need more than vague promises if he wants to move those sleeping rough into housing. Labour and Conservative governments have tried and failed to take people off the streets, and no scheme has been successful in eradicating the most severe type of homelessness.

The Prime Minister’s new policy aims to end rough sleeping at the earliest opportunity and says that an injection of £340m will take overall funding to record levels.

He insists that it is not an impossible aim and points to the “Everyone In” scheme during the pandemic that temporarily took people off the streets and resulted in 37,000 people being given emergency accommodation.

Past schemes have included the Rough Sleepers Initiative, launched under the Tories in the 1990s. Tony Blair later pledged to end “the scandal” of people living rough and reduce the number doing so by two thirds by 2002, a target that was met, but did not end the problem altogether.

The plans, which will not be set out until autumn, will include a five-year programme providing more support and include providing housing for at least 3,000 people.

Bed Every Night initiative

However, government statistics show that on one night in autumn 2025, the estimated number of people sleeping rough in England was 4,793, meaning this will not be enough to end the problem.

Almost a decade ago, during his campaign to be mayor of Greater Manchester, Mr Burnham pledged to end the crisis with a “radical” multi-pronged plan. It included the Bed Every Night initiative, which guaranteed the same bed each night for anyone sleeping rough in Greater Manchester.

Mr Burnham was so confident that, in January 2018, he encouraged listeners to BBC Radio Manchester to hold him to account. However, the city’s Piccadilly Gardens illustrates the extent of his failure, and the problem of homelessness in the city.

Figures from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) show that, in March, there were around 360 rough sleepers in the 10 local authority areas that make up Greater Manchester. This was up from 335 the year before.

The average number of rough sleepers for the 12 months to March was 396, almost double the equivalent figure in 2022, 204. This equates to around 13.1 rough sleepers per 100,000 people, almost double the 6.9 rate for 2022, according to analysis by The Telegraph.

These numbers are based on monthly totals of unique individuals encountered on the streets, including those who slept rough only briefly before being housed, entering a hospital or going to prison. Separate figures suggest that an average of 55 people are sleeping rough every night in Manchester city centre, three quarters of them men.

Mr Burnham was asked by Sky News about the failures to tackle homelessness in Greater Manchester during a visit to The Passage, a homeless charity in London.

The Prime Minister claimed the figures were “down significantly” from when he became mayor, and that he failed because there was no effective approach to the issue nationwide.

As he took office on Monday, he added: “It taught me the only way is to do this together, everybody pulling in the same direction, everyone in, as we did in the [coronavirus] pandemic, because we did bring people inside in the pandemic.

“That is what I would say as we go into government today, we did it then, we can do it now. Get the basics right to care for people at the heart of everything we can do, and get this country working as it should be.”

However, Sir James Cleverly, the shadow housing secretary, said Mr Burnham had provided “precious little detail” and was making promises without a plan.

He said: “Burnham must come clean on what other MHCLG programmes have been salami-sliced to fill the gap. In Manchester, Burnham promised to end rough sleeping, but failed because he didn’t do the hard work necessary. Now, again, he is making pledges without any plan for delivery.”

Lisa Smart, the Liberal Democrat MP for Hazel Grove in Greater Manchester, said Mr Burnham’s latest attempt “must be more successful than in Greater Manchester where, despite his efforts, rough sleeping has more than doubled in the last five years”.

Stuart Potts, who runs Saving People Shelter Project in Greater Manchester, said Mr Burnham had made some “stupid comments” by claiming he could end rough sleeping by 2020.

The support worker, who has been homeless in the past, added that he was previously “on the fence with Andy” but believed the Prime Minister would “try his best”, adding: “He’s only got two years to pull his fingers out his a— and get something done about things. Time will tell.”

In putting rough sleeping at the heart of his government, Mr Burnham seeks to solve a centuries-old problem all his predecessors had failed to end. But, like his tenure in Greater Manchester, he may have made a bold promise he cannot deliver.

Burnham Says He Will End Rough Sleeping. He Failed in Manchester

Homelessness remains one of the most difficult social challenges facing modern societies. When politicians promise to end rough sleeping, they often raise public expectations because such commitments suggest significant improvements in housing, social services, and economic opportunities. The headline “Burnham Says He Will End Rough Sleeping. He Failed in Manchester” reflects a political debate about whether past performance should influence public confidence in future promises.

Andy Burnham has previously stated that reducing homelessness is one of his key priorities. Supporters argue that his commitment demonstrates compassion and a willingness to address one of society’s most serious problems. They believe that governments have a responsibility to ensure that vulnerable people have access to safe accommodation, healthcare, employment support, and mental health services. According to this view, ending rough sleeping requires long-term investment and cooperation between local authorities, charities, housing providers, and national government.

However, critics argue that Burnham’s previous record in Manchester raises doubts about his latest pledge. They point out that homelessness remained a significant issue during his leadership and claim that earlier promises were not fully achieved. From their perspective, making another ambitious commitment without clear evidence of previous success may reduce public confidence. They argue that political leaders should be judged by measurable outcomes rather than optimistic promises.

At the same time, supporters respond that homelessness is influenced by many factors beyond the control of a single political leader. Rising housing costs, economic inequality, unemployment, mental health conditions, substance misuse, and reductions in public funding all contribute to the problem. They argue that local leaders can improve services and coordinate support, but they cannot solve every structural issue on their own. Therefore, evaluating Burnham’s performance requires considering the wider economic and social context.

The debate also highlights the importance of realistic policymaking. Completely ending rough sleeping is an ambitious objective that may require years of sustained effort and cooperation across different levels of government. Effective strategies often include increasing the supply of affordable housing, expanding emergency accommodation, improving access to healthcare, supporting employment opportunities, and preventing people from becoming homeless in the first place. Success depends not only on political leadership but also on adequate funding and coordinated public services.

Public trust plays a central role in this discussion. Voters expect politicians to set achievable goals and explain clearly how those goals will be reached. If ambitious promises are repeatedly made without visible progress, confidence in political institutions may decline. On the other hand, leaders who acknowledge challenges honestly and present practical solutions may gain greater public support, even if complete success takes time.

Ultimately, whether Burnham can achieve his objective will depend on the effectiveness of future policies rather than campaign slogans. Citizens are likely to judge his leadership by measurable improvements, such as reductions in the number of people sleeping on the streets, increased access to permanent housing, and better support services for vulnerable individuals.

In conclusion, the debate surrounding Burnham’s pledge to end rough sleeping reflects broader questions about political accountability, public expectations, and the complexity of addressing homelessness. While critics point to past performance in Manchester as evidence that the goal may be unrealistic, supporters argue that solving homelessness requires long-term cooperation and resources beyond the control of any one individual. Whatever the outcome, the issue demonstrates the importance of combining ambitious social goals with practical, evidence-based policies that can produce lasting improvements for those most in need.